Chapter Text
It's been a month now, and though everyone is trying their best, the One Kingdom is nowhere near functional or stable. In the days following Duma's defeat, Conrad had put down his lance and taken up the quill, becoming the right-hand man to Sir Mycen, Valentia's new chancellor. And though the life of a politician is slow and arduous, full of long hours and grueling paperwork, the payoff is better than anything Conrad could've ever hoped for.
To see the world, his world, grow and shift and stabilize in his hands as he molds it to his own ideals is something Conrad never expected to enjoy. He always assumed he would pursue a life of knowledge and enlightenment as a Sage at the Hamlet, but after experiencing the world and it's people, there's no way Conrad could ever just sit in isolation and watch the world shape itself. He wants to make a difference, and if that means running errands for Sir Mycen, then so be it. He'll run as many errands as it takes, and he'll do it to the best of his ability.
He'd heard stories about this place when he was in the care of Halcyon, stories of a big open hall filled with shelves - floor to ceiling - and books of all shapes and sizes.
The Royal Library was a place Conrad had only visited in his wildest imaginations prior to the war, yet here he is, standing in the main hall of the library. The open windows shine light over the large expanse of room, highlighting the rows of leather bound books. The smell, a musty scent of old paper and ink, reminds him of his early years with Halcyon, and the nights he would spend sneaking into his mentors personal collection to read each and every book he could by candlelight.
But now there's so much to take in and so many books to read that the scholar in him wishes to remain there for an eternity, studying the old manuscripts and reading various books of fiction. But, alas, Conrad is there not for leisure, but for work. Sir Mycen requested a report on a census from two hundred years ago, but no matter how desperately he searches through the shelves, he is unable to find the manuscript that he is looking for. The library itself seems to be an endless labyrinth of knowledge, and Conrad finds himself gawking at the sheer selection as he scours the shelves for the census he needs. He still can't seem to find it though, even as he journeys deeper and deeper into the heart of the library. Finding this census feels like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
He reaches the end of the library and circles back again, unsure of where to start or who to ask. Perhaps, he thinks, there might be fellow readers who can help him, so he reaches out to the first person he finds, and that's when he sees him again. Conrad blinks, lest he be seeing things - or perhaps people - who aren't there.
"Sir Lukas?" Conrad calls out cautiously, and the man looks up from his book. They haven't crossed paths since that final battle, and the last thing Conrad remembers of Lukas is his gentle touch as he guides him from his horse, a touch that fades into nothingness. But here he is before him, clothes impeccably pressed and clinging to him like a second skin. He looks healthy, having filled out at the shoulders and the waist some since the war.
"Ah, good day, Prince Conrad." Lukas closes the book and slips it back into its place on the shelf before he turns fully towards Conrad, giving a slight bow in his direction. When he straightens again, something catches Conrad's eye, highlighted only by the stream of light that weaves its way through the musty shelves. The sight of tear tracks unnerve Conrad, but a concealing smile is already in place on Lukas' face, like the shell of a man who's already gone. "No formalities are needed, just Lukas is fine. Is there something I can assist you with?"
"Lukas.." Conrad says his name and it feels right, but something is still off about Lukas himself. He wants to ask about historical documents and where to find them, but something about Lukas' red eyes and wet cheeks doesn't sit right with him. "Forgive me for intruding, but.. have you been crying?" He asks, but Lukas just blinks.
"Pardon?" Lukas raises a hand to his cheek, seemingly surprised when it comes away wet with tears. "So it would seem." His voice gets quiet, and Conrad can almost see the tension himself before Lukas speaks again. "Apologies, Prince Conrad, I didn't seem to notice."
Conrad eyes the book on the shelf momentarily, memorizing the title so that when Lukas is gone he might be able to steal the book away and read it for himself. But for now, Lukas is still watching him intently, curiously, perhaps waiting for some sort of sign from Conrad that his misdeeds are forgiven.
"Not to worry, Lukas." Conrad takes a moment to retrieve a small handkerchief from his pocket, one that is embroidered with designs of the Sage's Hamlet. He hands it to Lukas, who looks somewhat relieved as he takes it. It's an odd moment between the two, Conrad watching Lukas as he dabs at his eyes gingerly. He's unsure if he should say something, or maybe ask something, but he elects to do nothing.
And when Lukas is done, he sighs a long, loud sigh, handing the now damp handkerchief back to Conrad. But something about him seems more relaxed, perhaps more genuine than before, and the way he's smiling makes Conrad's heart feel full.
Conrad has so many questions he wishes to ask Lukas - about the book he was reading, or the library, or perhaps about Lukas himself and if he's doing okay - but the bells from the bell tower down the street chime twelve and break Conrad from his thoughts.
"Ah, I didn't realize it was so late." Lukas says with a blink, and Conrad reluctantly watches him go. "Thank you, Prince Conrad, but I must take my leave." His smile full of mirth, and he bows once more. "Perhaps we may meet again soon?"
To others, it may sound like a rhetorical question or just a pleasant gesture, but to Conrad, it's a promise for the future, and one he will not take lightly.
In the end, Conrad still failed find the census document he was looking for, but he gained a new book in return. He hides it beneath his arm, sliding out of the library with a secretive smile and a wave to the guards, and once he makes it to his quarters - a humble abode dug into the corner of the Royal Castle - he places the book upon his desk, staring at the cover that's bound in azure leather. The spine of the book reads 'The Cry of Shadows', and Conrad wastes no time delving into the story, spending the night reading by candlelight like he used to as a child in Halcyon's care.
It's the tale of a child, an orphaned girl, and her struggle to feel hope after a life of abandonment. It ends with her acceptance of her own shortcomings, and Conrad feels as if he knows Lukas a little better after finishing it.
Sir Mycen chews him out the next day when he stumbles into his superiors office, half asleep and carrying incomplete research reports, but Conrad feels as if the fatigue and the sleepless night was well worth it.